In the UK Patent Office refers to a filing that ensures that a third party (i.e., someone other than the owner) will be notified with respect to a range of actions that may arise with respect to a patent application or patent. Caveats can track:
- publications, withdrawals, refusals and abandonment
- oppositions filed
- registration of applications,
- refusals
- renewal, non renewal and expiration
- surrender and revocation
- requests to assign and assignments
And most other actions that would be formally recorded in a patent file.